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Morally Injurious Experiences and Emotions of Health Care Professionals During the COVID-19 Pandemic Before Vaccine Availability.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Song, YK; Mantri, S; Lawson, JM; Berger, EJ; Koenig, HG
Published in: JAMA Netw Open
November 1, 2021

IMPORTANCE: Moral injury in health care professionals (HPs) has worsened over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. The trauma and burnout associated with moral injury has profound implications for the mental health of HPs. OBJECTIVE: To explore the potential factors associated with moral injury for HPs who were involved in patient care during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, prior to the availability of vaccines. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: In this qualitative study, HPs were actively recruited to participate in a survey via snowball sampling via email and social media in 2 phases of 5 weeks each: April 24 to May 30, 2020 (phase 1), and October 24 to November 30, 2020 (phase 2). Overall, 1831 respondents answered demographic questions and assessments for moral injury, intrinsic religiosity, and burnout. Of those, 1344 responded to the open-ended questions. Responses to open-ended questions were coded iteratively and thematically analyzed within the framework of moral injury. EXPOSURES: Working in a patient care setting during the COVID-19 pandemic prior to the availability of vaccines. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Inductive thematic analysis of open-response survey answers identified dominant emotions and common stressors associated with moral injury. RESULTS: There were 335 individuals (109 [32.6%] aged 35-44 years; 288 [86.0%] women; 294 [87.8%] White) in phase 1 and 1009 individuals (384 [38.1%] aged 35-44 years; 913 [90.5%] women; 945 [93.7%] White) in phase 2. In phase 1, the respondents were predominantly nurses (100 [29.9%]), physicians (78 [23.3%]), advanced practice practitioners (APPs) (70 [20.9%]), and chaplains (55 [16.4%]). In phase 2, the respondents were predominantly nurses (589 [58.4%]), physicians (114 [11.3%]), and APPs (104 [10.3%]). HPs faced numerous stressors, such as fear of contagion, stigmatization, short-staffing, and inadequate personal protective equipment. The emotions experienced were (1) fear in phase 1, then fatigue in phase 2; (2) isolation and alienation; and (3) betrayal. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: These findings suggest that HPs experienced moral injury during the COVID-19 pandemic. Moral injury was not only experienced after a single moral dilemma but also from working in morally injurious environments. These experiences can serve as potential starting points for organizations to engender and enhance organizational and individual recovery, team building, and trust. System-level solutions that address shortages in staffing and personal protective equipment are needed to promote HP well-being.

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Published In

JAMA Netw Open

DOI

EISSN

2574-3805

Publication Date

November 1, 2021

Volume

4

Issue

11

Start / End Page

e2136150

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Workplace
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
  • Psychosocial Functioning
  • Organizational Culture
  • Middle Aged
  • Mental Health
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Health Personnel
  • Female
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
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Song, Y. K., Mantri, S., Lawson, J. M., Berger, E. J., & Koenig, H. G. (2021). Morally Injurious Experiences and Emotions of Health Care Professionals During the COVID-19 Pandemic Before Vaccine Availability. JAMA Netw Open, 4(11), e2136150. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.36150
Song, Ye Kyung, Sneha Mantri, Jennifer M. Lawson, Elizabeth J. Berger, and Harold G. Koenig. “Morally Injurious Experiences and Emotions of Health Care Professionals During the COVID-19 Pandemic Before Vaccine Availability.JAMA Netw Open 4, no. 11 (November 1, 2021): e2136150. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.36150.
Song YK, Mantri S, Lawson JM, Berger EJ, Koenig HG. Morally Injurious Experiences and Emotions of Health Care Professionals During the COVID-19 Pandemic Before Vaccine Availability. JAMA Netw Open. 2021 Nov 1;4(11):e2136150.
Song, Ye Kyung, et al. “Morally Injurious Experiences and Emotions of Health Care Professionals During the COVID-19 Pandemic Before Vaccine Availability.JAMA Netw Open, vol. 4, no. 11, Nov. 2021, p. e2136150. Pubmed, doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.36150.
Song YK, Mantri S, Lawson JM, Berger EJ, Koenig HG. Morally Injurious Experiences and Emotions of Health Care Professionals During the COVID-19 Pandemic Before Vaccine Availability. JAMA Netw Open. 2021 Nov 1;4(11):e2136150.

Published In

JAMA Netw Open

DOI

EISSN

2574-3805

Publication Date

November 1, 2021

Volume

4

Issue

11

Start / End Page

e2136150

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Workplace
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
  • Psychosocial Functioning
  • Organizational Culture
  • Middle Aged
  • Mental Health
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Health Personnel
  • Female